Wike Ridge
The original 18-hole Wike Ridge golf course, designed by renowned architect Donald Steel, opened for play in 1993, however, new funding and a redevelopment at the start of 2012 witnessed some changes.
These were drawn up in conjunction with Jonathan Gaunt of Gaunt Golf Design which took the course’s strongest attributes and simply added to them. The intention was to create a more memorable and engaging golf experience and this has been achieved mostly in the form of new water features.
The current layout has also lengthened the course, most notably with the second hole which now measures 629 yards! Greater definition has also been created thanks to revised bunkering and 1,400 transplanted trees.
The Wike Ridge course is a modern design and will only continue to mature and bed down over time. The new water hazards have certainly added some spice to the course in particular at the par-five 14th where your approach, be it your second or third shot, is likely to be played from a downhill lie over the water to quite a narrow green.
The aforementioned second is a true three shotter and the par-three 16th is also a brute of a hole at 232 yards. However, to counteract this there is a stretch of holes in the middle of the round (9, 10 & 11) that are all two-shotters and all play under 320 yards. The total yardage is 6,535 whilst par and SSS are both 72.
The sixth is perhaps the best par four on the course with an elevated drive to a fairway that is pinched by bunkers at the landing zone before you play back up to a green fronted by a pond. The 13th is also a very sound par three (as are all the short holes on the course) and is played over a valley.
All of the greens hold real interest and some of them have some considerable movement in them. My visit here was at the end of September and the course was quite soft so you could fire the ball right at the pin.
Wike Ridge is a course that will continue to improve and develop over time, especially as the young trees grow, but is already a popular venue for golfers from across the North of England.
